Lionel Willett - 298th Engineer Combat Battalion, WWII, WW2

Lionel J Willett

Source: The Barre Montpelier Times Argus, Thursday, February 21, 2019
BARRE Lionel Joseph Willett, 87, a lifetime resident of Barre, passed away Thursday evening, March 20, 2008, in Williston after a short struggle with cancer. His beloved wife Rose and daughters Gloria and Mary Jane were at his side. Lionel was born on December 14, 1920 in Quincy, Mass., the son of Arthur and Clarida (Fournier) Willett, and moved with his family to Montpelier as a young boy. He quickly picked up the nickname “Frenchie” which stayed with him the rest of his life. He attended St. Michael’s High School in Montpelier, where he participated in Boys’ State and was captain of the basketball team before graduating in 1939. Lionel enlisted in the US Army in 1942 and served in Europe during WWII as a member of the 298th Engineer Combat Battalion out of Fort Rucker, Alabama. He participated in the Normandy Campaign, the Campaign of Northern France, the Campaign Rhineland, the Ardennes Campaign, and the Campaign Central Europe. Lionel left the service at the end of 1945. He went to work for Green Mountain Power and was a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. Lionel was a parishioner at St. Monica's Church in Barre, where he served as an usher and on the Alter Society, and as chair of the St. Monica’s Pastoral Council. He was also a member of the Knights of Columbus, Bishop Brady Council #399. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Rose; sister Lucille MacLellan of Calais; daughters Gloria Boucher and Mary Jane Knapp, both of South Burlington; sons-in-law Ronald Boucher and James Knapp; and grandchildren Jennifer Albers, Aimee Boucher and Christopher, Matthew and Jonathan Knapp. He is also survived by sister- and brother-in-law Patricia and William Peterson of Barre and many nieces and nephews. A special thanks to nieces Linda Howells of Burlington and Patty Warman of Barre for their care and devotion. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Monica's Church in Barre on Monday, March 24th. Burial in Hope Cemetery. In his last weeks, Lionel received compassionate and loving care at the Vermont Respite House. Contributions to the Vermont Respite House, 99 Allen Brook Lane, Williston, VT 05495. Pruneau-Polli Funeral Home, Summer Street, Barre.

Source: Find A Grave
Lionel Joseph Willett
BIRTH 14 Dec 1920, Quincy, Norfolk County, Massachusetts
DEATH 20 Mar 2008 (aged 87), Williston, Chittenden County, Vermont
BURIAL Hope Cemetery, Barre, Washington County, Vermont
MEMORIAL ID 158358545

Source: Social Security Death Index
Name: Lionel J Willett
Birth Date: 14 December 1920
Social Security Number: 009-09-5882 Vermont
Last Place of Residence: Washington, Vermont 05641
Death Date: 20 March 2008
Age: 88

Source: Moose Roots
Name Lionel J Willett
Race White
Birth Year 1920
Residence Washington County, Vermont
Place of Birth Massachusetts
Height 69 in. Weight 164 lbs.
Civilian Occupation Actors and actresses
Marital Status Single, without dependents
Education 4 Years of High School
Enlistment Date August 19, 1942
Army Serial Number 31155735

Source: The Boston Globe, Boston, Massachusetts, Tuesday, APril 21, 1942, pg 12
Lionel J. Willett, 21. of Mont-pelier, Vt., has received the N. Y. A. award for the N. Y. A. youth most valuable to war production in Vermont on the basis of the precision, quality and quantity of his output at the resident center of the N. Y. A. in Waterbury, where more than 100 young men are learning defense skills while working on production orders for all branches of Uncle Sam's armed forces.

Named in 13th Reunion the 298th ECB Invitation List.
Listed as "NOT ATTENDING".
Willett, Lionel
33 Richardson Rd., Barre, VT 05641-5100

Listed in the 298th Journal October 1943
1300 Oct. 23/43 208 1300 Oct. 23/43
S0 # 99 this Hq published this date. Par 2 appoints Lt. Radtke PX Inventory Officer. Par 3 transfers S/Sgt Willett from Co �B� to �H&S� Co.

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